Although sometimes portrayed as mystical or magical, hypnosis is neither. Instead, used as a tool by a trained Hypnotherapist, hypnosis offers a journey of incredible magnitude deep into the sub-conscious mind revealing an oasis of information and memories. Hypnotherapy is the practice by which this oasis of self-knowledge is unlocked. It facilitates an altered state of mind where the Critical Faculty, or everyday judgements, are suspended and replaced with Selective Thinking in the form of pleasing and acceptable suggestions.While in an hypnotic state, awareness is greatly increased, sometimes as much as 2000 times above normal everyday awareness. This heightened state offers expanded initiative and insight for change. Hypnosis is a very alert and focussed state. It is believed to be a state somewhere between sleep and wakeful, one which we enter into on our own several times throughout the day.
False: While in a hypnotic state the conscious mind is by-passed, allowing the sub-conscious to receive and respond to pleasing and acceptable suggestions. However, if offered a displeasing suggestion it is rejected and commonly the hypnotic state is broken immediately.
False: In a sleep state the body functions, like respirations, blood pressure, reflexes, and mental processess all slow down. In an hypnotic state body functions remain normal while awareness is greatly heightened.